Alpine Linux:Overview - Revision history

John3-16: /* General overview */

2025-07-20T21:35:41Z

General overview

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:35, 20 July 2025
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	It's also well known for '''wide use in embedded devices''' and as a '''base system for many enterprise routers'''.		It's also well known for '''wide use in embedded devices''' and as a '''base system for many enterprise routers'''.

	The [https://postmarketos.org/ postmarketOS] project, which is designed to run on mobile devices, is based on Alpine Linux.		The [https://postmarketos.org/ postmarketOS] project, which is designed to run on mobile devices and other consumer electronics, is based on Alpine Linux.

	=== Distinctive ===		=== Distinctive ===

John3-16 at 21:33, 20 July 2025

2025-07-20T21:33:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:33, 20 July 2025
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	== General overview ==		== General overview ==

	Alpine Linux has ~~one of the~~ '''[https://everybytecounts.org/ one of the fastest boot times]''' of any operating system.		Alpine Linux has '''[https://everybytecounts.org/ one of the fastest boot times]''' of any operating system.

	It's famous because of its small size and it's '''[https://www.infoworld.com/article/2254081/review-alpine-linux-is-made-for-docker.html heavily used in containers'''].		It's famous because of its small size and it's '''[https://www.infoworld.com/article/2254081/review-alpine-linux-is-made-for-docker.html heavily used in containers'''].

John3-16: 1. Added external links for bootup benchmarks(everybytecounts.org), use in containers (infoworld.com), postmarketOS (postmarketos.org),Position Independent Executables (Wikipedia); 2. Added link re 'Small+Simple+Secure'(alpinelinux.org/about)

2025-07-20T21:28:07Z

1. Added external links for bootup benchmarks(everybytecounts.org), use in containers (infoworld.com), postmarketOS (postmarketos.org),Position Independent Executables (Wikipedia); 2. Added link re 'Small+Simple+Secure'(alpinelinux.org/about)

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:28, 20 July 2025
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	== General overview ==		== General overview ==

	Alpine Linux has one of the '''fastest boot times''' of any operating system.		Alpine Linux has one of the '''[https://everybytecounts.org/ one of the fastest boot times]''' of any operating system.

	It's famous because of its small size and it's '''heavily used in containers'''.		It's famous because of its small size and it's '''[https://www.infoworld.com/article/2254081/review-alpine-linux-is-made-for-docker.html heavily used in containers'''].

	It's also well known for '''wide use in embedded devices''' and as a '''base system for many enterprise routers'''.		It's also well known for '''wide use in embedded devices''' and as a '''base system for many enterprise routers'''.

	The postmarketOS project, which is designed to run on mobile devices, is based on Alpine Linux.		The [https://postmarketos.org/ postmarketOS] project, which is designed to run on mobile devices, is based on Alpine Linux.

	=== Distinctive ===		=== Distinctive ===

	Alpine Linux follows the principles of '''the SSS distro: Small+Simple+Secure''': due to usage of [https://musl.libc.org/ muslc] as the minimalist libc, BusyBox simple coreutils (with possibilities to alternate on inflated original packages of each coreutils tools also) and userland binaries compiled as Position Independent Executables (PIE) with stack smashing protection.		Alpine Linux follows the principles of '''the SSS distro: [https://alpinelinux.org/about/ Small+Simple+Secure]''': due to usage of [https://musl.libc.org/ muslc] as the minimalist libc, BusyBox simple coreutils (with possibilities to alternate on inflated original packages of each coreutils tools also) and userland binaries compiled as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Position-independent_code Position Independent Executables (PIE)] with stack smashing protection.

	=== Efficient ===		=== Efficient ===

Prabuanand: fixed headings, added wikilinks, intro line from https://alpinelinux.org/about/

2025-07-20T16:34:06Z

fixed headings, added wikilinks, intro line from https://alpinelinux.org/about/

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:34, 20 July 2025
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	Alpine uses [https://musl.libc.org/ musl] as its libc, and [[BusyBox]] as core utilities. These choices tend to make Alpine especially minimalist and secure.		Alpine Linux is an independent, non-commercial, general purpose Linux distribution designed for power users who appreciate security, simplicity and resource efficiency. Alpine uses [https://musl.libc.org/ musl] as its libc, and [[BusyBox]] as core utilities. These choices tend to make Alpine especially minimalist and secure.

	== General overview ==		== General overview ==
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	=== Distinctive ===		=== Distinctive ===

	Alpine Linux follows the principles of '''the SSS distro: Simple~~+Small~~+Secure''': due to usage of [https://musl.libc.org/ muslc] as the minimalist libc, BusyBox simple coreutils (with possibilities to alternate on inflated original packages of each coreutils tools also) and userland binaries compiled as Position Independent Executables (PIE) with stack smashing protection.		Alpine Linux follows the principles of '''the SSS distro: Small+Simple+Secure''': due to usage of [https://musl.libc.org/ muslc] as the minimalist libc, BusyBox simple coreutils (with possibilities to alternate on inflated original packages of each coreutils tools also) and userland binaries compiled as Position Independent Executables (PIE) with stack smashing protection.

	=== Efficient ===		=== Efficient ===
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	Some main reasons:		Some main reasons:

	# Usage of [~~https://musl.libc.org/ musl~~] as the minimalist libc		# Usage of [[Musl]] as the minimalist libc
	# Its own package manager called [[Alpine Package Keeper\|apk]],		# Its own package manager called [[Alpine Package Keeper\|apk]]
	# The ~~{{Pkg\|openrc}}~~ init system, script driven set-ups and that’s it!		# The [[Openrc]] init system, script driven set-ups and that’s it!
	# ~~{{Pkg\|busybox}}~~: simple coreutils (with possibilities to alternate on inflated original packages ~~of each coreutils tools also~~)		# [[BusyBox]]: simple coreutils (with possibilities to [[How_to_get_regular_stuff_working\|alternate on inflated original]] packages)

	This provides you with a simple, '''crystal-clear Linux environment without all the noise''', nothing else will get in the way.		This provides you with a simple, '''crystal-clear Linux environment without all the noise''', nothing else will get in the way.
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	== Technical overview ==		== Technical overview ==

	~~<ol>~~		=== Architectures ===
	~~<li>'''~~Architectures~~'''~~

	~~<p>Alpine uses '''Linux''' as [https://www.kernel.org/ OS kernel], and has a focus on '''SSS distribution, Simple Small and Secure'''.~~
	~~The table below represents architectures supported by Alpine Linux: </p>~~

			Alpine uses '''Linux''' as [https://www.kernel.org/ OS kernel], and has a focus on '''SSS distribution, Small Simple and Secure'''.
			The table below represents architectures supported by Alpine Linux:
	{{:Include:Architecture support matrix}}		{{:Include:Architecture support matrix}}
	~~<!--~~

	~~To avoid content fragmentation, it is better to maintain information at one place and refer it from other docs/pages~~		=== Installation ===

	* '''x86_64''': The popular AMD64 compatible 64-bit x86 based machines, i386 are not recommended for newer/latest hardware.
	* '''x86''': (i386 pc 32bit) and x86_64 (i686 pc 64bit and amd64)
	* '''armhf''': The newer ARM hard-float for newer, more powerful 32-bit devices alongside 64-bit
	* '''armv7''': The 32-bit ARM only execution state of the ARMv7 devices machines.
	* '''aarch64''': The 64-bit ARM only execution state of the ARMv8 device machines.
	* '''ppc64le''': For 64-bit PowerPC devices with pure little-endian mode, mostly for POWER8 and POWER9.
	* '''s390x''': For IBM Z mainframes, especially IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE.
	~~-->~~

	~~</li><li>'''Installing'''~~

	<p>Alpine can be installed to a hard disk/SSD/other storage medium like any other distro (this is called '''sys mode'''). The storage medium in question can be any block device (USB, Flash, SDD, HDD). It can be removable, so long as you can configure your machine to boot from it. But if you're working with removable media, you might prefer one of the other installation modes.</p>		<p>Alpine can be installed to a hard disk/SSD/other storage medium like any other distro (this is called '''sys mode'''). The storage medium in question can be any block device (USB, Flash, SDD, HDD). It can be removable, so long as you can configure your machine to boot from it. But if you're working with removable media, you might prefer one of the other installation modes.</p>

	<p>In each of these modes, you boot your machine from a static image. You will also need a writable medium to save updates to the system. In '''~~diskless mode~~''', that medium is usually a small USB key (or a partition on one) that holds the changes you want to persist. Both the base Alpine system and all your changes will be unpacked into a memory-based filesystem.</p>		<p>In each of these modes, you boot your machine from a static image. You will also need a writable medium to save updates to the system. In '''[[Diskless Mode\|Diskless]]''' mode, that medium is usually a small USB key (or a partition on one) that holds the changes you want to persist. Both the base Alpine system and all your changes will be unpacked into a memory-based filesystem.</p>

	<p>The other, '''data''' mode is for when you're dealing with a large amount of persisting data, that you want to keep on a hard disk/SSD/other storage medium, rather than unpacking into memory. The default setup here is to store your {{Path\|/var}} partition directly on the hard storage medium. But as in the '''diskless''' mode, your root system still comes from a static ISO image.</p>		<p>The other, '''[[Data Disk Mode\|data disk]]''' mode is for when you're dealing with a large amount of persisting data, that you want to keep on a hard disk/SSD/other storage medium, rather than unpacking into memory. The default setup here is to store your {{Path\|/var}} partition directly on the hard storage medium. But as in the '''diskless''' mode, your root system still comes from a static ISO image.</p>

	<p>These second and third installation modes are sometimes referred to, collectively, as "run-from-RAM" installations.</p>		<p>These second and third installation modes are sometimes referred to, collectively, as "run-from-RAM" installations.</p>
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	<p>The lbu utility is part of the {{Pkg\|alpine-conf}} package, which is required by {{Pkg\|alpine-base}}.</p>		<p>The lbu utility is part of the {{Pkg\|alpine-conf}} package, which is required by {{Pkg\|alpine-base}}.</p>


	<p>'''Alpine's installer''' consists of '''the {{Path\|/sbin/setup-*}} scripts''', which are also part of the {{Pkg\|alpine-conf}} package.		<p>'''Alpine's installer''' consists of '''the {{Path\|/sbin/setup-*}} scripts''', which are also part of the {{Pkg\|alpine-conf}} package.
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	</p><p>Alpine's boot loader in that case is {{Pkg\|syslinux}}, or its companions <code>isolinux</code> or <code>extlinux</code>. The latest releases also have Grub and [[Alpine and UEFI\|UEFI support]].</p>		</p><p>Alpine's boot loader in that case is {{Pkg\|syslinux}}, or its companions <code>isolinux</code> or <code>extlinux</code>. The latest releases also have Grub and [[Alpine and UEFI\|UEFI support]].</p>

	~~</li><li>'''~~The init system~~'''~~		=== The init system ===

	<p>An "init system" includes several different components. First, there is the initramfs, which is loaded by the bootloader. Alpine's tool for generating the initramfs is {{Path\|/sbin/mkinitfs}}, part of the {{Pkg\|mkinitfs}} package, which is required by Alpine's kernel packages and by its {{Pkg\|syslinux}} package. This tool's settings are read from {{Path\|/etc/mkinitfs/*}}, and it installs the initscript {{Path\|/usr/share/mkinitfs/initramfs-init}} into the initramfs.		<p>An "init system" includes several different components. First, there is the initramfs, which is loaded by the bootloader. Alpine's tool for generating the initramfs is {{Path\|/sbin/mkinitfs}}, part of the {{Pkg\|mkinitfs}} package, which is required by Alpine's kernel packages and by its {{Pkg\|syslinux}} package. This tool's settings are read from {{Path\|/etc/mkinitfs/*}}, and it installs the initscript {{Path\|/usr/share/mkinitfs/initramfs-init}} into the initramfs.
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	</p>		</p>

	~~</li><li>'''~~The packaging and development system~~'''~~		=== The packaging and development system ===

	~~<p>~~The last important distinguishing feature of a Linux distro is its packaging and development systems.		The last important distinguishing feature of a Linux distro is its packaging and development systems.

	</p><p>In Alpine's case, these are something a hybrid between [https://www.archlinux.org/ ArchLinux]'s, on the one hand, and [https://www.gentoo.org/ Gentoo] and [https://www.freebsd.org/ FreeBSD]'s, on the other. Our package-management and build utilities work much like Arch's:		</p><p>In Alpine's case, these are something a hybrid between [https://www.archlinux.org/ ArchLinux]'s, on the one hand, and [https://www.gentoo.org/ Gentoo] and [https://www.freebsd.org/ FreeBSD]'s, on the other. Our package-management and build utilities work much like Arch's:
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	</p>		</p>

	~~</li></ol>~~		== See also ==

	= See ~~Also~~ =

	* [[Comparison with other distros]]		* [[Comparison with other distros]]
	* [[Tutorials and Howtos]]		* [[Tutorials and Howtos]]
	* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BusyBox BusyBox]

	[[Category:Installation]]		[[Category:Installation]]

Prabuanand: Removed the link and transcluded :Include:Architecture support matrix

2024-12-20T13:57:01Z

Removed the link and transcluded Include:Architecture support matrix

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:57, 20 December 2024
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	<li>'''Architectures'''		<li>'''Architectures'''

	<p>Alpine uses '''Linux''' as [https://www.kernel.org/ OS kernel], and has a focus on '''SSS distribution, Simple Small and Secure'''</p>		<p>Alpine uses '''Linux''' as [https://www.kernel.org/ OS kernel], and has a focus on '''SSS distribution, Simple Small and Secure'''.
			The table below represents architectures supported by Alpine Linux: </p>

	~~<p>[[~~Architecture~~#Architectures_supported\|Architecture]] page lists the architectures that are officially supported.~~		{{:Include:Architecture support matrix}}
	<!--		<!--

Prabuanand: added link to Architecture page

2024-12-18T18:12:43Z

added link to Architecture page

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:12, 18 December 2024
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	<p>Alpine uses '''Linux''' as [https://www.kernel.org/ OS kernel], and has a focus on '''SSS distribution, Simple Small and Secure'''</p>		<p>Alpine uses '''Linux''' as [https://www.kernel.org/ OS kernel], and has a focus on '''SSS distribution, Simple Small and Secure'''</p>

	<p>~~A variety of~~ architectures are officially supported:		<p>[[Architecture#Architectures_supported\|Architecture]] page lists the architectures that are officially supported.
			<!--

			To avoid content fragmentation, it is better to maintain information at one place and refer it from other docs/pages

	* '''x86_64''': The popular AMD64 compatible 64-bit x86 based machines, i386 are not recommended for newer/latest hardware.		* '''x86_64''': The popular AMD64 compatible 64-bit x86 based machines, i386 are not recommended for newer/latest hardware.
	* '''x86''': (i386 pc 32bit) and x86_64 (i686 pc 64bit and amd64)		* '''x86''': (i386 pc 32bit) and x86_64 (i686 pc 64bit and amd64)
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	* '''ppc64le''': For 64-bit PowerPC devices with pure little-endian mode, mostly for POWER8 and POWER9.		* '''ppc64le''': For 64-bit PowerPC devices with pure little-endian mode, mostly for POWER8 and POWER9.
	* '''s390x''': For IBM Z mainframes, especially IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE.		* '''s390x''': For IBM Z mainframes, especially IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE.
			-->

	</li><li>'''Installing'''		</li><li>'''Installing'''

Prabuanand: creating busybox webpage using link

2024-10-21T13:31:09Z

creating busybox webpage using link

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:31, 21 October 2024
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	Alpine uses [https://musl.libc.org/ musl] as its libc, and [~~https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BusyBox~~ BusyBox] as core utilities. These choices tend to make Alpine especially minimalist and secure.		Alpine uses [https://musl.libc.org/ musl] as its libc, and [[BusyBox]] as core utilities. These choices tend to make Alpine especially minimalist and secure.

	== General overview ==		== General overview ==
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	* [[Comparison with other distros]]		* [[Comparison with other distros]]
	* [[Tutorials and Howtos]]		* [[Tutorials and Howtos]]
			* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BusyBox BusyBox]

	[[Category:Installation]]		[[Category:Installation]]

Dubiousjim: /* Technical overview */ restored some older material that got garbled in 2019 edits, revised section for clarity

2024-10-19T00:22:26Z

Technical overview: restored some older material that got garbled in 2019 edits, revised section for clarity

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:22, 19 October 2024
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	<ol>		<ol>
	~~</li>~~<li>'''~~The OS design~~'''		<li>'''Architectures'''

	<p>Alpine uses '''Linux''' as [https://www.kernel.org/ OS kernel], and has a focus on '''SSS distribution, Simple Small and Secure'''</p>		<p>Alpine uses '''Linux''' as [https://www.kernel.org/ OS kernel], and has a focus on '''SSS distribution, Simple Small and Secure'''</p>
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	* '''s390x''': For IBM Z mainframes, especially IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE.		* '''s390x''': For IBM Z mainframes, especially IBM Z and IBM LinuxONE.

	<p>Alpine can be installed to a hard disk/SSD/other storage medium like any other distro; (sys mode). The storage medium in question can be any block device (USB, Flash, SDD, HDD). Always in start, the base Alpine system and all your changes will be unpacked into a memory-based filesystem. If run some install script process (data mode) will keep your setup on a hard disk/SSD/other storage medium, rather than unpacking into memory. The default setup here is to store your /var partition directly on the hard storage medium. But as in the diskless mode, your root system still comes from a static ISO image.
	~~</p>~~

	</li><li>'''~~The installation~~'''		</li><li>'''Installing'''

	<p>In Alpine'~~s case,~~ '''~~the installer consists of the {{Path\|/sbin/setup-*}} scripts~~''', ~~which are also part~~ of the ~~{{Pkg\|alpine-conf}} package~~.		<p>Alpine can be installed to a hard disk/SSD/other storage medium like any other distro (this is called '''sys mode'''). The storage medium in question can be any block device (USB, Flash, SDD, HDD). It can be removable, so long as you can configure your machine to boot from it. But if you're working with removable media, you might prefer one of the other installation modes.</p>

	~~</p>~~<p>'''~~A base Alpine install will include only needed packages~~''' ~~such like {{Pkg\|alpine-base}}, {{Pkg\|syslinux}}~~, ~~{{Pkg\|linux-lts}}~~ (or ~~another kernel package~~), and ~~depending of purpose some like {{Pkg\|openssh}}~~/~~{{Pkg\|chrony}}.~~		<p>In each of these modes, you boot your machine from a static image. You will also need a writable medium to save updates to the system. In '''diskless mode''', that medium is usually a small USB key (or a partition on one) that holds the changes you want to persist. Both the base Alpine system and all your changes will be unpacked into a memory-based filesystem.</p>

	</p><p>Alpine's boot loader case ~~this~~ is {{Pkg\|syslinux}}, or its companions <code>isolinux</code> or <code>extlinux</code>. ~~Latest~~ releases have Grub and [[Alpine and UEFI\|UEFI support]].</p>		<p>The other, '''data''' mode is for when you're dealing with a large amount of persisting data, that you want to keep on a hard disk/SSD/other storage medium, rather than unpacking into memory. The default setup here is to store your {{Path\|/var}} partition directly on the hard storage medium. But as in the '''diskless''' mode, your root system still comes from a static ISO image.</p>

			<p>These second and third installation modes are sometimes referred to, collectively, as "run-from-RAM" installations.</p>

			<p>Key to these installation modes is Alpine's [[Alpine local backup\|lbu]] utility. This tracks which files you've modified from their static ISO version, and want the changes to persist. The lbu utility saves those changes in {{Path\|.apkovl}} "overlay" files. (These are essentially tar-gzip archives, though they can also be encrypted. You can use the lbu utility with the '''sys''' mode, too, if you like: as a form of backup, or to configure overlay files for other systems. But for a robust incremental backup system, you'll probably want a more specialized tool, such as {{Pkg\|rsnapshot}}.)</p>

			<p>The lbu utility is part of the {{Pkg\|alpine-conf}} package, which is required by {{Pkg\|alpine-base}}.</p>


			<p>'''Alpine's installer''' consists of '''the {{Path\|/sbin/setup-*}} scripts''', which are also part of the {{Pkg\|alpine-conf}} package.

			</p><p>'''A base Alpine install will include only needed packages''' such like {{Pkg\|alpine-base}}, {{Pkg\|syslinux}}, {{Pkg\|linux-lts}} (or another kernel package), and depending on your purposes packages like {{Pkg\|openssh}} and/or {{Pkg\|chrony}}.

			</p><p>Alpine's boot loader in that case is {{Pkg\|syslinux}}, or its companions <code>isolinux</code> or <code>extlinux</code>. The latest releases also have Grub and [[Alpine and UEFI\|UEFI support]].</p>

	</li><li>'''The init system'''		</li><li>'''The init system'''

Dubiousjim: /* Technical overview */ grammer fix

2024-06-14T20:48:12Z

Technical overview: grammer fix

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:48, 14 June 2024
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	<p>Alpine uses '''Linux''' as [https://www.kernel.org/ OS kernel], and has a focus on '''SSS distribution, Simple Small and Secure'''</p>		<p>Alpine uses '''Linux''' as [https://www.kernel.org/ OS kernel], and has a focus on '''SSS distribution, Simple Small and Secure'''</p>

	<p>A variety of architectures are officially ~~supports~~:		<p>A variety of architectures are officially supported:
	* '''x86_64''': The popular AMD64 compatible 64-bit x86 based machines, i386 are not recommended for newer/latest hardware.		* '''x86_64''': The popular AMD64 compatible 64-bit x86 based machines, i386 are not recommended for newer/latest hardware.
	* '''x86''': (i386 pc 32bit) and x86_64 (i686 pc 64bit and amd64)		* '''x86''': (i386 pc 32bit) and x86_64 (i686 pc 64bit and amd64)

Sertonix: use https

2023-08-25T02:36:16Z

use https

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:36, 25 August 2023
Line 13:		Line 13:
	=== Distinctive ===		=== Distinctive ===

	Alpine Linux follows the principles of '''the SSS distro: Simple+Small+Secure''': due to usage of [~~http~~://musl-libc.org/ muslc] as the minimalist libc, BusyBox simple coreutils (with possibilities to alternate on inflated original packages of each coreutils tools also) and userland binaries compiled as Position Independent Executables (PIE) with stack smashing protection.		Alpine Linux follows the principles of '''the SSS distro: Simple+Small+Secure''': due to usage of [https://musl.libc.org/ muslc] as the minimalist libc, BusyBox simple coreutils (with possibilities to alternate on inflated original packages of each coreutils tools also) and userland binaries compiled as Position Independent Executables (PIE) with stack smashing protection.

	=== Efficient ===		=== Efficient ===
Line 68:		Line 68:
	<p>The last important distinguishing feature of a Linux distro is its packaging and development systems.		<p>The last important distinguishing feature of a Linux distro is its packaging and development systems.

	</p><p>In Alpine's case, these are something a hybrid between [https://www.archlinux.org/ ArchLinux]'s, on the one hand, and [~~http~~://www.gentoo.org/ Gentoo] and [~~http~~://www.freebsd.org/ FreeBSD]'s, on the other. Our package-management and build utilities work much like Arch's:		</p><p>In Alpine's case, these are something a hybrid between [https://www.archlinux.org/ ArchLinux]'s, on the one hand, and [https://www.gentoo.org/ Gentoo] and [https://www.freebsd.org/ FreeBSD]'s, on the other. Our package-management and build utilities work much like Arch's:

	* {{Pkg\|mkinitfs}}, mentioned above, rebuilds Alpine's initramfs, like Arch's "mkinitcpio"		* {{Pkg\|mkinitfs}}, mentioned above, rebuilds Alpine's initramfs, like Arch's "mkinitcpio"